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Ecological site R028BY002NV

SALINE MEADOW

Accessed: 08/29/2026

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General information

Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 028B–Central Nevada Basin and Range

MLRA 28B occurs entirely in Nevada and comprises about 23,555 square miles (61,035 square kilometers). More than nine-tenths of this MLRA is federally owned. This area is in the Great Basin Section of the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. It is an area of nearly level, aggraded desert basins and valleys between a series of mountain ranges trending north to south. The basins are bordered by long, gently sloping to strongly sloping alluvial fans. The mountains are uplifted fault blocks with steep sideslopes. Many of the valleys are closed basins containing sinks or playas. Elevation ranges from 4,900 to 6,550 feet (1,495 to 1,995 meters) in the valleys and basins and from 6,550 to 11,900 feet (1,995 to 3,630 meters) in the mountains.
The mountains in the southern half are dominated by andesite and basalt rocks that were formed in the Miocene and Oligocene. Paleozoic and older carbonate rocks are prominent in the mountains to the north. Scattered outcrops of older Tertiary intrusives and very young tuffaceous sediments are throughout this area. The valleys consist mostly of alluvial fill, but lake deposits are at the lowest elevations in the closed basins. The alluvial valley fill consists of cobbles, gravel, and coarse sand near the mountains in the apex of the alluvial fans. Sands, silts, and clays are on the distal ends of the fans.
The average annual precipitation ranges from 4 to 12 inches (100 to 305 millimeters) in most areas on the valley floors. Average annual precipitation in the mountains ranges from 8 to 36 inches (205 to 915 millimeters) depending on elevation. The driest period is from midsummer to midautumn. The average annual temperature is 34 to 52 degrees F (1 to 11 degrees C). The freeze-free period averages 125 days and ranges from 80 to 170 days, decreasing in length with elevation.
The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Aridisols, Entisols, and Mollisols. The soils in the area dominantly have a mesic soil temperature regime, an aridic or xeric soil moisture regime, and mixed or carbonatic mineralogy. They generally are well drained, loamy or loamyskeletal, and shallow to very deep.
Nevada’s climate is predominantly arid, with large daily ranges of temperature, infrequent severe storms and heavy snowfall in the higher mountains. Three basic geographical factors largely influence Nevada’s climate: continentality, latitude, and elevation. The strong continental effect is expressed in the form of both dryness and large temperature variations. Nevada lies on the eastern, lee side of the Sierra Nevada Range, a massive mountain barrier that markedly influences the climate of the State. The prevailing winds are from the west, and as the warm moist air from the Pacific Ocean ascend the western slopes of the Sierra Range, the air cools, condensation occurs and most of the moisture falls as precipitation. As the air descends the eastern slope, it is warmed by compression, and very little precipitation occurs. The effects of this mountain barrier are felt not only in the West but throughout the state, as a result the lowlands of Nevada are largely desert or steppes.
The temperature regime is also affected by the blocking of the inland-moving maritime air. Nevada sheltered from maritime winds, has a continental climate with well-developed seasons and the terrain responds quickly to changes in solar heating. Nevada lies within the midlatitude belt of prevailing westerly winds which occur most of the year. These winds bring frequent changes in weather during the late fall, winter and spring months, when most of the precipitation occurs.
To the south of the mid-latitude westerlies, lies a zone of high pressure in subtropical latitudes, with a center over the Pacific Ocean. In the summer, this high-pressure belt shifts northward over the latitudes of Nevada, blocking storms from the ocean. The resulting weather is mostly clear and dry during the summer and early fall, with occasional thundershowers. The eastern portion of the state receives noteworthy summer thunderstorms generated from monsoonal moisture pushed up from the Gulf of California, known as the North American monsoon. The monsoon system peaks in August and by October the monsoon high over the Western U.S. begins to weaken and the precipitation retreats southward towards the tropics (NOAA 2004).

Ecological site concept

This site occurs lake terraces. Slopes are less than 2 percent and elevations range from 4400 to 6800 feet.
The soils associated with this site are very deep, poorly drained, and strongly salt and sodium affected. Soils are characterized by a ochric epipedon and decreasing salinity with depth. The water table is near the surface for short periods in the early spring, but usually stabilizes at depths below 40 inches during the growing season.
The reference plant community is dominated by alkali sacaton. Alkali cordgrass, alkali bluegrass, and sedges are commonly associated species. Potential vegetative composition by weight is about 85% grasses and grass-likes, 10% forbs,and 5% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 15 to 25 percent.

Associated sites

R028BY001NV	WET MEADOW 10-14 P.Z.
R028BY004NV	SALINE BOTTOM
R028BY044NV	WETLAND
R028BY050NV	WET SODIC BOTTOM

Similar sites

R028BY099NV	WET ALKALI MEADOW CACA4 dominant grass.
R028BY001NV	WET MEADOW 10-14 P.Z. POJU or PONE3 and CAREX dominant; more productive site.
R028BY050NV	WET SODIC BOTTOM DISP dominant plant.
R028BY098NV	WET CLAY BASIN Not a stable plant community; occurs on intermittently ponded lake bed and basin landforms.
R028BY100NV	DRY MEADOW 6-10 P.Z. POA ssp. and MURI dominant grasses.
R028BY004NV	SALINE BOTTOM LECI4 dominant and SPAI codominant grasses; more productive site.
R028BY012NV	WET SALINE MEADOW PASM dominant grass; more productive site; soils wet through growing season.
R028BY081NV	MOIST FLOODPLAIN LECI4 or LETR5 dominant grasses; more productive site.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	(1) Sporobolus airoides (2) Spartina gracilis

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on lake terraces. It can also be found on around seeps and springs on basin floors. Slopes range from 0 to 8 percent, but slopes gradients of 0 to 2 percent are most typical. Elevations are 4400 to 6800 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Lake terrace (2) Lake plain (3) Basin floor
Flooding duration	Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to long (7 to 30 days)
Flooding frequency	Rare to occasional
Ponding duration	Long (7 to 30 days)
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	4400 – 6800 ft
Slope	0 – 8 %
Ponding depth	0 in
Water table depth	0 – 42 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The climate associated with this site is semiarid, characterized by cold, moist winters and warm, dry summers.

Average annual precipitation ranges from 6 to 10 inches. The mean annual air temperature is about 45 to 50 degrees F. The average growing season is 100 to 120 days.

Table 3 Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	110 days
Freeze-free period (average)	0 days
Precipitation total (average)	10 in

Bar

Line

Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 3. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 4 Annual average temperature pattern

Soil features

The soils associated with this site are very deep and poorly drained. These soils are strongly salt and sodium affected in the upper profile, soil reaction and salinity decreasing with depth. Water table is near the surface for short periods in the early spring that usually stabilizes at depths below 40 inches during the summer. Capillary rise of this ground water enhances soil moisture during the growing season. The soils have an ochric epipedon, a mesic teperature regime and an aridic bordering on aquic moisture regime. Soil series associated with this site are Bicondoa, Boofuss, Brinnum, Equis, Duffer, Paranat, Rose Creek, Ruby Lake, Umberland and Wendane.
Additional moisture is received on this site as run-in from higher landscapes. Soils are susceptible to gully erosion which intercepts normal stream overflow patterns and results in site degradation.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Silty clay loam (2) Silt loam (3) Clay loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Poorly drained to somewhat poorly drained
Permeability class	Very slow to moderately slow
Soil depth	72 – 84 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)	5.6 – 8.2 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	0 – 30 %
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	4 – 32 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	0 – 90
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	7.9 – 11
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	0 – 2 %
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	Not specified

Ecological dynamics

As ecological conditions declines, inland saltgrass and Baltic rush increase, as alkali sacaton and alkali bluegrass decrease.
Where severe stream entrenchment occurs, the potential for this site is lost due to a change in soil moisture balance. Typically this site is succeeded by the plant community characterized in the Saline Bottom (028BY004NV) site description following severe stream down cutting.

Fire Ecology:
There is very little fire frequency information available for saline meadow communities prior to presettlement times. It is estimated that fire occured every 7-10 years. Alkali sacaton is classified as tolerant of, but not resistant to, fire. Top-killing by fire is probably frequent, and the plants can be killed by severe fire. Alkali cordgrass has high fire tolerance. Alkali cordgrass grows in areas that do not burn regularly due to the high moisture content of the plant community. Sedge is top-killed by fire, with rhizomes protected by insulating soil. The rhizomes of sedge species may be killed by high-severity fires that remove most of the soil organic layer. Reestablishment after fire occurs by seed establishment and/or rhizomatous spread. Baltic rush is fire tolerant when dormant and top-killed by fire during the growing season. It establishes after fire through seed and/or lateral spread by rhizomes. Nevada bluegrass is generally unharmed by fire. It produces little litter, and its small bunch size and sparse litter reduces the amount of heat transferred to perennating buds in the soil. Saltgrass rhizomes occur deep in the soil where they are insulated from the heat of most fires. Saltgrass survives fire by sending up new growth from rhizomes.

State and transition model

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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Reference Plant Community

State 1
Reference State

Community 1.1
Reference Plant Community

The reference plant community is dominated by alkali sacaton. Alkali cordgrass, alkali bluegrass, and sedges are important associated plant species. The plant community is characterized by an open stand of perennial grasses, grass-like plants, and forbs. Potential vegetative composition is about 85% grasses and grass-likes, 10% forbs,
and 5% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 15 to 25 percent.

Figure 5. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 5. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	595	850	1275
Forb	70	100	150
Shrub/Vine	35	50	75
Total	700	1000	1500

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Primary Perennial Grasses/Grasslikes			630–1040
	alkali sacaton	SPAI	Sporobolus airoides	400–500	–
	alkali cordgrass	SPGR	Spartina gracilis	100–150	–
	sedge	CAREX	Carex	50–100	–
	saltgrass	DISP	Distichlis spicata	20–80	–
	bluegrass	POA	Poa	20–80	–
	alkaligrass	PUCCI	Puccinellia	20–50	–
2	Secondary Perennial Grasses			100–150
	foxtail barley	HOJU	Hordeum jubatum	5–50	–
	basin wildrye	LECI4	Leymus cinereus	5–50	–
	scratchgrass	MUAS	Muhlenbergia asperifolia	5–50	–
	mat muhly	MURI	Muhlenbergia richardsonis	5–50	–
	western wheatgrass	PASM	Pascopyrum smithii	5–50	–
Forb
3	Perennial			50–150
	alkali cordgrass	SPGR	Spartina gracilis	100–150	–
	western wheatgrass	PASM	Pascopyrum smithii	5–50	–
	shootingstar	DODEC	Dodecatheon	5–20	–
	Rocky Mountain iris	IRMI	Iris missouriensis	5–20	–
	povertyweed	IVAX	Iva axillaris	5–20	–
	cinquefoil	POTEN	Potentilla	5–20	–
	dock	RUMEX	Rumex	5–20	–
	ragwort	SENEC	Senecio	5–20	–
Shrub/Vine
4	Primary Shrubs			15–60
	bluegrass	POA	Poa	20–80	–
	foxtail barley	HOJU	Hordeum jubatum	5–50	–
	whiteflower rabbitbrush	CHAL9	Chrysothamnus albidus	5–20	–
	rubber rabbitbrush	ERNAC2	Ericameria nauseosa ssp. consimilis	5–20	–
	greasewood	SAVE4	Sarcobatus vermiculatus	5–20	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited for livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed towards alkali sacaton and alkali cordgrass. Alkali sacaton is a valuable forage species in arid and semiarid regions. Plants are tolerant to moderate grazing and can produce abundant herbage utilized by livestock. Palatability for alkali cordgrass is low for livestock. Baltic rush is described as a fair to good forage species for cattle. On average, Baltic rush palatability is considered medium to moderately low. Baltic rush is considered palatable early in the growing season when plants are young and tender, but as stems mature and toughen palatability declines. Bluegrass is a widespread forage grass. It is one of the earliest grasses in the spring and is sought by domestic livestock and several wildlife species. Saltgrass's value as forage depends primarily on the relative availability of other grasses of higher nutritional value and palatability. It can be an especially important late summer grass in arid environments after other forage grasses have deceased. Saltgrass is rated as a fair to good forage species only because it stays green after most other grasses dry. Livestock generally avoid saltgrass due to its coarse foliage. Saltgrass is described as an “increaser” under grazing pressure.

Stocking rates vary over time depending upon season of use, climate variations, site, and previous and current management goals. A safe starting stocking rate is an estimated stocking rate that is fine tuned by the client by adaptive management through the year and from year to year.

Wildlife Interpretations:
The western salt desert shrub and grassland communities where alkali sacaton is common support an abundance of mule deer, pronghorn, carnivores, small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Palatability for alkali cordgrass is low for wildlife. Sedges have a high to moderate resource value for elk and a medium value for mule deer. Elk consume beaked sedge later in the growing season. Baltic rush also provides food for several wildlife species and waterfowl. Baltic rush is an important cover species for a variety of small birds, upland game birds, birds of prey, and waterfowl. Saltgrass provides cover for a variety of bird species, small mammals, and arthropods and is on occasion used as forage for several big game wildlife species.

Hydrological functions

Runoff is low to very high and ponding occurs in depressional areas. Gullies are rare to common depending on severity of associated stream channel entrenchment. Gullies and head cuts are healing or stable. Where this site is not associated with perennial or ephemeral channels gullies are none. Deep-rooted perennial herbaceous bunchgrasses slow runoff and increase infiltration. Relatively dense foliar cover of perennial grasses and associated litter break raindrop impact and slow overland flow.

Recreational uses

Aesthetic value is derived from the diverse floral and faunal composition and the colorful flowering of wild flowers during the spring and early summer. This site offers rewarding opportunities to photographers and for nature study.

Other products

The stems of Baltic rush were historically used by Native Americans as a foundation for coiled basketry.

Other information

Alkali sacaton is one of the most commonly used species for seeding and stabilizing disturbed lands. Due to alkali sacaton’s salt tolerance, is recommended for native grass seeding on subirrigated saline sites. Baltic rush's production of deep and fibrous roots originating from a mass of coarse and creeping rhizomes makes it a valuable species for stabilizing streambanks and protecting against soil erosion. Given its extensive system of rhizomes and roots which form a dense sod, saltgrass is considered a suitable species for controlling wind and water erosion.

Supporting information

Type locality

Location 1: White Pine County, NV
Township/Range/Section	T23 N R63 E S2
Latitude	39° 53′ 34″
Longitude	114° 49′ 4″
General legal description	Approximately 45 miles north of Ely, along the active floodplain of Duck Creek, Steptoe Valley, White Pine County, Nevada. This site also occurs in Eureka and Elko Counties, Nevada.
Location 2: Elko County, NV
Township/Range/Section	T36 N R64 E S28
Latitude	40° 58′ 28″
Longitude	114° 44′ 39″
General legal description	Northwest margins of wetlands associated with Warm Springs, Independence Valley, Elko County, Nevada. This site also occurs in Eureka and White Pine Counties, Nevada.

Other references

Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).

USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov).

Houghton, J.G., C.M. Sakamoto, and R.O. Gifford. 1975. Nevada’s Weather and Climate, Special Publication 2. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno, NV.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2004. The North American Monsoon. Reports to the Nation. National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center. Available online: http://www.weather.gov/

Contributors

HA/RK/GKB

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)	GK BRACKLEY
Contact for lead author	State Rangeland Management Specialist
Date	06/20/2006
Approved by
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
None
Presence of water flow patterns:
None
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare Ground ± 30%; surface rock fragments minimal; shrub canopy less than 5%; foliar cover of perennial herbaceous plants ± 75%.
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Gullies are rare to common depending on severity of associated stream channel entrenchment. Gullies and head cuts are healing or stable. Where this site is not associated with perennial or ephemeral channels gullies are none.
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine litter (foliage of grasses and annual & perennial forbs) is only expected to move during periods of flooding by adjacent streams. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during peak flooding periods.
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability values will range from 2 to 4. (This will be field tested.)
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Soil surface structure is weak, thin platy; moderate, fine subangular blocky; strong, very coarse prismatic; or rarely massive. Soil surface colors are light and the soils have ochric or mollic epipedons. Organic carbon can range from 1 to 2 percent in the upper 10 inches. (OM values derived from lab characterization data.)
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Deep-rooted perennial herbaceous bunchgrasses slow runoff and increase infiltration. Relatively dense foliar cover of perennial grasses and associated litter break raindrop impact and slow overland flow.
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None - Platy or massive subsurface layers are not to be interpreted as compaction.
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):

Dominant:
Reference State: Deep-rooted, warm season, perennial grasses >> rhizomatous, cool season, perennial grasses and grass-like plants. (By above ground production)

Sub-dominant:
Deep-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs > shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrasses and grass-like plants > fibrous, shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs > deciduous shrubs. (By above ground production)

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Herbaceous plant mortality or decadence is uncommon.
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Within plant interspaces (± 80%) and depth (1to 3 in.)
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
For normal or average growing season (September thru July) ± 2500 lbs/ac; Spring flooding significantly affects total production.
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Foxtail barley and black greasewood will increase on this site. Rubber rabbitbrush, thistle and tall whitetop are invaders on this site.
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All functional groups should reproduce in most years.

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